Vending-machine.



PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904.

J. HEBERLING.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLIUATION FILED 001'. 20, 1903.

3 SHEET$-SHEET 1.

N0 MODEL.

nn mum PATENTED DEC. 13, 1904:.

J HEBERLING.

VENDING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 001*. 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

witnesses No. 777,414. PATENTED DEG. 13, 1904. J. HEBERLING. VENDINGMACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED OUT. 20, 1903.

N0 MODEL. v 3SHBETS-SHEBT 3.

Q am I10. Wmia.

Patented December 13, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE,

JOHN l-IEBERLING, OF ROCHESTER, NENV YORK.

VENDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N0. 777,414, dated December13, 1904.

Application filed October 20, 1903. Serial No. 177,319. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JOY-TN HEBERLING, of Rochester, in the county ofMonroe and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Vending-Machines; and I do hereby declare the following to be aclear, full, and exact description of the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, and tothe reference-numerals marked thereon.

My present invention has for its object to produce a novel form ofcoin-controlled vending machine that embodies an improved method ofcontaining the packages or articles to be vended and novel mechanismthat is con trolled in its operation by the deposit of a coin of theproper denomination for delivering the packages or articles successivelyfrom their containers or holders.

It is also an object of my invention to construct a device of thischaracter that shall present a neat and attractive appearance and one inwhich the entire mechanism may be visually observed.

To these and other ends my invention consists in the combinations ofparts to be hereinafter more fully explained, the features of noveltybeing pointed out in the claims hereunto annexed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a central vertical sectional view of avending-machine cm- Fig. 2 1s a fragmenbodying my invention. tarysectional view taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a transversesectional view on the line 33, Fig. 2. Fig. 4: is a detail view of oneof the holders, showing the method of feeding and. delivering thearticles. Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the device, showing thecoin-controlled mechanism in elevation; and Fig. 6 is a top plan View ofFig. 5, parts being broken away for clearness in illustration.

Similar parts are designated by the same numerals of reference in theseveral views.

In order that a clear understanding may be had of my said invention,reference will be had to the herein-shown embodiment thereof, wherein ldesignates a supporting-base that may be of any suitable character, tothe upper side of which is secured a plate 2 bridging the aperture 3,that is preferably formed in the base, and through this plate extendsthe lower extremity of the standard 4, fastened in position by the nut5, that may be also utilized for holding in position a hell or othersignal device 6, which may be found useful for a purpose that willhereinafter more fully appear. Over the relatively fixed standard 4: isrevolubly fitted a sleeve 7, resting at its lower extremity upon theplate 2 and having attached thereto one end of the spiral spring 8,arranged in such a manner as to exert a force upon said sleeve, normallytending to rotate it in a predetermined direction, and at the upper endof this sleeve is fixedly mounted a carrier 9, divided at predeterminedintervals by the indentations 10 into a plurality of compartments 11,preferably of such a configuration as to receive one end of the packagesor articles to be contained, a depending follower 12 being provided uponsaid carrier and arranged to bear against the adjacent package orarticle in a manner to be hereinafter more fully explained. This rotarycarrier is also provided with a ring 13, having a plurality of teeth orprojections 1 L disposed at predetermined intervals around itsperiphery.

Below the carrier 9 is provided an annular track or support 15, uponwhich the packages or articles to be delivered rest, the upper end ofeach package resting in its corresponding compartment in the rotarycarrier 9, and in orderto guide the packages in their n1otion aroundthis support upturned flanges 16 16 may be provided to form a channelthrough which the lower ends of said packages pass while moving aroundthe relatively fixed support. This support may beadvantageonsly retainedin its lixed position by the tube 17, loosely fitted over the sleeve 7and supported atits lower end by the plate 18, secured to the plate 2 bythe studs 19.

A supplemental or additional holder similar to that hereinbeforedescribed is also illustrated in the present embodiment, the rotarycarrier, 20 thereof being adjustably mounted upon the rotary sleeve 21,that is loosely litted over the tube 17 and connected at its lower endto the spiral spring 22, which may be conveniently mounted above thespring 8 and is arranged to exert a force upon the sleeve 21 and itscarrier, tending to rotate them in a l predetermined direction. Thiscarrier is also provided with a pair of oppositely-disposed concentricflanges 23 24, either or both of which may be provided with indentations25 to form a plurality of separated compartments, a notched or toothedring 26 being also provided upon the carrier of the supplemental holder,thatis arranged in the present embodiment to operate in a similarmanner, but independently of the upper carrier 9. Below the carrier 20is located the relatively stationary annular support 27, having theparallel upturned flanges 28 29 arranged thereon to form an annularchannel through which the packages or articles to be delivered mayfreely move, a casing 30, secured to the plate 2 and inclosing thesprings 8 and 22, being utilized also to hold the support 27 inposition. In connection with these independently-operablepackage-delivery holders above described I employ a pair of coin-chutes31 32, respectively, shown in the present embodiment as extending fromthe relatively fixed support 33 upon the standard outwardly in oppositedirections and thence downwardly upon opposite sides of the upper andlower holders, terminating at a point preferably below the annularsupport of the lower holder, and in order to securely retain thesechutes in their fixed positions a spacing member 34, rigidly secured tothe standard 4 and suitably attached at each end to said chutes, may beprovided, connections being made preferably with the relativelystationary supports of the upper and lower holders to firmly retain saidparts rigidly in fixed relation. Each chute is provided with a pair ofoppositely-disposed overhanging flanges 35 to form a channel for thecoin, and a portion of one of these flanges is removed in proximity tothe lower extremity of the chute, leaving a cut-away portion into whichis adapted to rest the coin-actuated member 36, extending diagonallyacross the path of the coin while descending the coinchute. Such adevice is provided for each coin-chute for controlling the operation ofthe upper and lower holders independently, and for accomplishing thispurpose I have employed a novel form of releasing mechanism comprising apair of rods 37 38, respectively, pivotally mounted in the lugs 39 40and connected to their corresponding coinactuated devices 36 by thelevers 41 42, respectively, springs 43 44 being provided for normallyretaining the coin-actuated members in their normal position across thepath of the coin-chutes. Upon each rod above mentioned is carried areleasing device or escapement 45 46, one of which engages the notchedor toothed ring of the upper and the other the lower rotary carrier 9and 20, respectively, in such a manner that operation of one of therelease-rods connected to its corresponding coin-actuated device willmove said releasing device in such a manner as to permit itscorresponding carrier to rotate a predetermined degree at eachsuccessive operation. The passage of a coin through either chute willcause the movable device 36, extendingldiagonally across the path of thecoin, to be momentarily displaced by it, causing the correspondingrelease-rod connected to it to be oscillated, which motion will becommunicated to the corresponding releasing device 45 or 46, causing itto disengage from one tooth and permit the carrier to rotate to the nextsucceeding tooth, and as the coin after striking the device 36immediately drops from the chute said device will be immediatelyreturned to its normal position by the striking of the next succeedingtooth against the adjacent projection of the releasing devicesupplemental to the action of the spring 43 or 44, as the case may be.In order to prevent operation of the device by undersized coins orslugs, the chute may be so constructed that the under side thereof at 47will be so formed as to permit a genuine coin of the proper denominationor dimensions to pass, but to allow an undersized object to drop throughinto the receptacle 48.

I have devised a novel form of casing that is adapted for inclosing adevice of this character in such a manner as to permit a visualobservation to be made of the entire mechanism, consisting in thepresent embodiment of a hollow dome or globe 49, preferably of glass orother transparent material,having its lower edge seated in an annulargroove 50, formed in the base, its upper portion terminating in asmaller annular flange 51, defining an aperture through which passes thestandard 4, and with it the upper ends of the chutes 31 and 32,connected to the support 33 upon the standard, and over the top of thisflange 51 of the casing is adapted to fit an annular cover 52, aperturedcentrally to fit over the standard 4 and having a peripheral flange 53encircling the outer side of the flange 51 to hold said casing firmly inplace, a lock 54, having a hasp 55, adapted to enter an aperture formedin the standard immediately above the removable cover 52, being providedto prevent access to the device by unauthorized persons. Ooinciding withthe apertures of the chutes 31 32 are slots 56 57, respectively, formedin the removable cover to permit the insertion of the proper coin fromthe exterior of the casing.

When it is necessary to fill the holders with packages, the casing isremoved by unlocking the lock 54 and removing the cover 51, which willpermit the casing to be freely lifted, allowing free access to theholders. In filling the holders any method may be employed, the packagesbeing successively inserted into position with their upper endsextending into the individual compartments formed in the carriers 9 and20 for the purpose, the carand riers being rotated until they are full,and their followers 12 rest against the stops 58 upon the relativelystationary supports beneath, the teeth or projections upon said carriersbeing so arranged as to cause the releasing devices 45 4:6 to ride overthem while the holders are being filled. In the present embodiment thecarriers are rotated in reverse directions in filling against the actionof their respective springs, the reaction of which tends to rotate thecarriers in an opposite direction, causing the followers 12 to exert apressure against the adjacent packages in the holder. Under normalconditions motion of the carriers under the influence of theirrespective springs will be prevented by the engagement of the releasingdevices 45 16 with the corresponding teeth or' their respectivecarriers; but when a coin of the proper denomination is inserted ineither chute it will drop to the bottom thereof, striking the movablemember 36 and displacing it from its normal position across the chute topermit the passage of said coin, and as each movable member is connectedto its corresponding rod carrying the releasing device the latter willbe momentarily rocked to disengage itself from the adjacent notch ortooth of its carrier, permitting it to rotate under the action of itsspring to the neXt succeeding notch, the follower 12 pushing the annularrow of packages around the holder a sul'licient distance to cause thefirst package in the row to move forward into the package-chute 59,disengaging itself from its holder and dropping by gravity into thedelivery-chute 60, leading to the dischargepassage 61. In the meantimethe releasing device will have returned immediately to its normalposition to engage the next succeeding tooth or notch of the carrierunder the action of its corresponding spring 43 or 44, therebyimmediately returning the parts into position to be operated by the nextcoin and causing only one package to be delivered for each coin that isdeposited.

In the present embodiment the holders employed are practicallyduplicates and may be arranged to contain packages either of the samekind or of different kinds and dimensions, and in order that bothholders may accommodate packages of various kinds and dimensions theirrespective carriers 9 and 20 are locked upon their respective sleeves 7and 21 by the set-screws 7 and 21, thereby permitting the relativedistances between the retary carriers 9 and 20 and their respectivesupports 15 and 27 to be adjusted, such a construction also rendering itpossible to adjust the tension of the respective springs to the desireddegree by adjusting the carrier in the proper relation with its sleeve.

It may be found desirable to employ a signal device in connection withsuch a vending machine that will be automatically actuated while apackage is being discharged, and in the present embodiment I haveillustrated such a device that is adapted to be actuated by the strikingof the package during its passage from the machine upon the pivotedplate 62, depressing it and bringing it into engagement with the pivotedclapper or tongue 63, which in turn strikes the bell 6 to produce anaudible signal, indicating that a package has been delivered. Such asignal will also serve as a detector to prevent malicious parties fromsecretly tampering with the machine.

A coin or check controlled vending-machine of this character isparticularly adapted to be exposed to view upon counters of stores or inother convenient and accessible places, and when exhibited in such amanner it will present a very neat and attractive appearance, thetransparent casing inclosing the mechanism enabling an observation to bemade of the parts at all times.

The embodiment herein shown is designed for vending small packages ofchewing-gum, candy, and various other articles that are usually packedin wrappers of a convenient size; but it will be readily understood thatmodifications may be made in the structure to adapt it to theaccommodation of articles of various shapes, sizes, and characteristics,which adaptations would come within the scope of my invention.

1 claim as my invention- 1. In a vending-machine, the combination withthe base, of a package receiver or holder embodying a pair of spaceddisks having correspondiugly-arranged annular channels thereon adaptedto receive the ends of the packages and thereby support them in anannular row, and a chute formed in one of the disks through which thepackages are adapted to be discharged.

2. In a vending-machine, the combination with the base, of a packagereceiver or holder embodying a relatively fixed support having anannular track thereon around which the packages are adapted to beadvanced and provided with a package-discharge aperture, and a revolublemember havinga channel thereon adapted to receive the packages tosupport them in an annular row between the movable member and thesupport, and provided with a follower for engaging the packages toadvance them around the track.

3. In a vending-machine, the combination with a base having a standardthereon, 01 a relatively fixed support adapted to receive the articlesto be vended, a carrier revolubl y mounted at a predetermined distancefrom the support having a follower thereon adapted to engage thearticles and thereby advance them around the support in a continuousannular row, a stop at one end of the track to limit the movement of thearticles in one direction and a delivery chute or apertu re at the otherend of the track through which the articles are adapted to be delivered,and operating means for the carrier.

4. In a vending-machine, the combination with a base having a standardthereon, of a sleeve having a relatively fixed support mounted thereonand provided with an annular track encircling the standard, a sleeverevolubly mounted within the sleeve of the support, having a carriermounted thereon and provided with a follower adapted to engage thearticles and thereby advance them around the track of the support, andoperating means connected to the revoluble sleeve for actuating thecarrier.

5. In a vending-machine, the combination with a base having a standardthereon, of a relatively fixed sleeve inclosing the standard having asupport mounted thereon adapted to receive the articles to be vended, arevoluble sleeve loosely fitted between the relatively fixed sleeve andthe standard having a carrier mounted thereon adapted to engage thearticles to advance them over the support, and a spring connected to therevoluble sleeve for operating the carrier.

6. In a vending-machine, the combination with the base having thestandard thereon, of a support for receiving the articles to be vended,a sleeve revolubly mounted upon the standard, a carrier loosely fittedupon said sleeve for advancing the articles over the support, a carrieroperating spring connected to said sleeve, and means for securing thecarrier and sleeve together in any desired relation to enable thetension of the spring to be adjusted.

7. In a vending-machine, the combination with the base having thestandard thereon, of a pair of superposed goods-holders each having arelatively fixed supporting-sleeve fitted over the standard, andcarrying the article-receiving support, and the revoluble sleevesmounted Within the relatively fixed sleeves each supporting a carrierfor advancing the articles over the support, a supporting-plateconnected to one of the relatively fixed supporting-sleeves, and anoperating-spring located upon each side of the supporting-plate andconnected to its corresponding revoluble sleeve. I

8. In a vending-machine, the combination with the base having thestandard thereon, of one or more holders wholly supported upon thestandard each embodying a relatively fixed annular support, and arevoluble carrier, a brace for each holder attached at its upper portionto the standard and extending downwardly past the sides of the holdersand attached to the relatively fixed supports thereof to assist thestandard in sustaining the supports in proper position.

9. In a vending-machine, the combination with the base, and the packageor article holders adapted to deliver the articles to be vended, of asignal device embodying a pivoted operating member located in the pathof the articles while they are being delivered, a striker cooperatingwith said member, and a bell or other signal located in the path of thestriker and adapted to be sounded thereby when the latter is actuated bythe passage of a package over the operating member.

10. In a device of the character described, the combination with a basehaving a standard mounted thereon, of a package-holder comprising arelatively stationary member mounted on a tube or casing loosely fittedover the standard and supported upon the base forming a support aroundwhich the packages are arranged to be advanced and dischargedsuccessively, and a relatively movable carrier mounted on a sleeveloosely fitted between said tube and standard and arranged to advancesaid packages, a supplemental packageholder having a movable carriermounted on a sleeve loosely fitted over the tube of the first holder, arelatively fixed member supported by a casing loosely fitted over thelatter sleeve of the supplemental holder and arranged to be supportedupon the base, operating means connected to said sleeves and exerting aforce tending to rotate their respective carriers, a releasing devicefor each carrier normally preventing their operation, and devices foroperating said releasing devices to permit the operation of theirrespective carriers.

11. In a vending-machine the combination with a package-holdercomprisinga relatively fixed support having an annular track aroundwhich the packages are adapted to move and a cut away portion in saidtrack through which the packages are adapted to drop, and a relativelymovable carrier disposed at a predetermined distance from the supportdivided into compartments to receive a portion of the packages, andhaving a follower to engage the packages to advance them around saidtrack and discharge them successively through said cut-away portion, aplurality of toothed projections arranged at predetermined intervals onsaid carrier, and means normally tending to operate said carrier, of areleasing device having a projection thereon normally in engagement withone of said projections to prevent the operation of said carrier,'and aprojection also carried by said releasing device and arranged to bestruck by the next succeeding projection to return said device to itsnormal position after being operated to permit the operation of saidcarrier, and mechanism controlling the operation of said releasingdevice.

12. In avending-machine, a package-holder embodying a relativelystationary support having upturned flanges arranged concentricallythereon to form an annular track around which the ends of the packagesare adapted to move, and a discharge-chute formed in the track throughwhich the packages are adapted to discharge successively as they aremoved around the track, and a relatively movable carrier having acorrcspondingly-shaped annular portion adapted to receive the oppositeends of the packages and provided with a follower engaging the packagesfor advancing them in an annular row around the support, means foroperating the carrier, and mechanism for controlling the operation ofthe carrier.

13. In a vending-machine the combination of a package-holder embodying asupport and a relatively movable member spaced apart, and each providedwith correspondingly-arranged annular channels to receive the ends ofthe packages that extend between the support and movable member, adischarge-chute communicating with a cut-away portion of the channel ofthe support, a follower carried by the movable member, means foroperating said member to advance the packages successively to thedischarge-chute, and mechanism for controlling the operation of saidmember.

of the relatively lixed supports, an operating a spring attached to theend of each carriersleeve, and a brace for each holder the upper ends ofwhich are attached to the standard and extend downwardly beside thepackageholders and connect with the relatively fixed. supports thereofto reinforce them.

JOHN HEBERLING.

Witnesseu:

CLARENCE A. BATEMAN, G. \VILLARD RICH.

